Liverpool - River Side

I arrived Liverpool by train in the early afternoon. I had decided to go for Bed & Breakfast and checked in at Pat´s Guest House in Kirkdale. After having brought luggage and cycle inside I took the bus down to city and went for a walk along the River Mersey.

From Wheelock to Acton Bridge

After a good nights sleep and breakfast I went on. The day turned out to be the last day on the Trent & Mersey Canal. I came along a Middlewich and Northwich with their industrial areas - yes, this is a big part of the canal too.
Unfortunately I was too late for the Anderton Boat Lift, one of only two working boat lifts in the United Kingdom.
There were two small further tunnels, I had hard fights with too small gates, before I found a beautiful place for my tent nearby the Bradley Meadow Bridge. Here I met Tim who checked out the trains to Liverpool for me, thanks for that :)

From Stoke-On-Trent to Wheelock

The Trent & Mersey Canal took me to the Harecastle Tunnel and  Kidsgrove to a bridge near Wheelock where I pitched up my tent for the night.

The Potteries

The Potteries is the name for the area between Stoke-On-Trent, Newcastle-Under-Lyme and Kidsgrove. Everywhere along the canal are big chimneys where the potterie was burnt.
I went by the Burleigh Pottery, one of the last potteries still producing.

From Sandon to Stoke-On-Trent

The next morning was cloudy and cold. I had been told that it was going to start raining in the afternoon, so I decided to get through Stone to the Wedgwood Museum, spend a day there and go on a camp site nearby in the evening. Unfortunately the camp site didn´t exist any more so I ended up in the nice B&B The White House in Stoke-On-Trent. It is really in old english style, and Joe, the owner, is friendly and has a lot to tell about the region and its culture. He offered to wash my clothes, I have a bath for my own, television and wifi :) I decided to stay for two nights.

From Fradley Junction to Sandon

The day started with clear blue sky and high temperature. I was quite happy as it got a bit cloudy during the day and less hot. I went by Rugely, and the junction at Great Haywood where the Tixall Wide meets the canal. Soon behind are the Pasturefields, which in former times was known because of its salt industry and medicinal baths. The towpath is in a bad condition here, bumpy and with high plants on its sides. I was glad to find a flat place for my tent behind Bridge 84 where I drunk a Cider in the evening sun watching the cows watching me :)

Claymills Victorian Pumping Station

Beside of Bridge 29 was a sign about the Claymills Victorian Pumping Station. Unfortunately closed on Tuesdays, but I decided to get off the canal and have a look.
As I was standing in front of the entrance one of the volunteers came up to me and invited me to take a look at the station.
I stayed there for roundabout 2 hours, and even if I didn´t understand an iota about what I was viewing I was amazed about the old Victorian Beauty. This post is big, enjoy, my friends :)

From Barrow upon Trent to Fradley Junction

Another sunny day, I am early up, only the fishermen are earlier on the canal and gives me a friendly good morning.
Before reaching Burton upon Trent I had the chance to visit Claymills Pumping Engines (this nice Victorian Steam Pumping Engines will get a post of its own).
Afterwards I skipped visiting the brewing museum in Burton upon Trent as I was invited to tea and cake in the marina. About eight o´clock I reached the very nice waterscape around the small village Arlewas and its lock. Half an hour later I sat down for a pint of lager, a sandwich, and a nice chat with a couple in the pub at Fradley Junction, where the Coventry Canal meets the Trent & Mersey Canal. Just right in time before it got dark I put up my tent in the fields close to the junction.

From Nottingham to Barrow upon Trent

My first day on the Trent & Mersey Canal started busy. First I had to visit the cycle shop for new brake pads as I lost one of them on my tour to Newstead Abbey. Afterwards I took the cycle route number 6 down to Nottingham and its Castle Marina. I had to buy new maps, the english post does not seem to be very reliable :(
But finally I was on the canal again!
I went along Attenborough Nature Reserve, and the big canal junction at Trent Lock. Here meets the River Soar the Trent & Mersey Canal and the Erewash Canal. From there on the towpath was quite bumpy again, but I managed to reach a camp site near the canal between Derby and Barrow upon Trent for my first night.